I'll be travelling on BC ferries during the first half of this game - hopefully they'll be showing it on the onboard TV.

The Canucks are decided underdogs in this contest, with their dismal home record. But their last 2 games - and their perfect divisional record - give me reason to be optimistic. I predict a close one, with Daniel scoring in OT to give the Canucks a win.

6-0-0 in the Northwest, back at .500, three wins in a row. This season is suddenly looking up. To think, everyone wanted to rip this team apart after the Nashville loss. We certainly aren't totally there yet (we still failed to play a full 60 minutes tonight), but it's finally looking up. Another long break, then arguably the toughest stretch of the season. The next 5 division games will make or break it for us.

Last night's tilt was the first one I've seen this year at the Garage where they looked even remotely like last year's team.

They didn't leave a lot of open ice for the Avs, they kept things pretty simple, they were fairly patient on the forecheck, they worked pretty hard throughout the line-up, when the Avs finally got close the boy's didn't fall apart through a series of mental miscues, Luongo played like a Roman demi-god and we eked out a win.

Yeah, things could still improve, but the team has been more grounded since Salo and Bieksa went down. It's as if a light went on and they all finally realized - "Wow, we aren't really that talented a club outside of the net and actually have to outwork the other guys to give Bobby a chance to steal a win".

Let's cross our fingers and hope the club sticks with that underdog mentality and doesn't don't get too cocky over these last few wins. If they do, taking four out of five of the next games against Divisional opponents should be possible. THEN the season will be back on track.

Last night's game could have gone either way and had lots of flow, which is a good thing because some of the Canucks' victories this season were very one sided with them fortunate to come out on top. Even though they were playing their 2nd game in 2 nights, the Canucks outshot a very good offensive team. If the Canucks continue to position themselves sound defensively and Luongo plays like he did, they will win more games than they lose and will be a playoff team. His glove save robbery off Brunette's backhand was just as marvelous at GM Place as it was on TV (is that the sound of crickets chirping in JOS/NIK's corner?). The Hank Sedin non goal was complete BS. Another disallowed goal where the ref was out of position with a loose puck in the goalcrease. No one heard the whistle and Vigneault said the ref explained to him that he (the ref) meant to blow the whistle and that's why he waved off the goal. In an league where they equate more scoring with excitement and more fans coming out, there's no excuse by Campbell and the NHL for this to be allowed. That's 2 legitimate goals in 16 games by the Canucks where the refs were caught out of position and waved them off.

The first goal definitely should have counted but, if it had, the second would have been called back so we finished even on that one.

It's great to see the team playing with jump and determination again. I hope these wins drive the message home and they embrace that identity.

I still think it's false economy to let Carter go and put Naslund with the Sedins but, given our roster, I'd keep Nazzy there and let the line gel.
The scoring chances are already happening on a regular basis. The goals will come.
Naslund has more skill than Carter so this line could potentially produce two to three goals per game.
It will certainly open up the ice for the other lines.

Kesler is playing like a budding star. If Isbister could find a finishing touch they would be a good scoring threat as well.

It's fun to watch Burrows as a leader.
Every line he plays on produces chances.
Burrows is, to my mind, the most over-achieving player on the team this year.
It must be a nice change for him after last season when every goal he scored was called back leaving him little more than a penalty kill specialist.

It's good to see Luongo finding his game again. We need that.
A team that is built from the net out has to have solid, way above average, goaltending night in and night out. The way the team collapses to fend off loose pucks in front and the way we kept our focus when the puck was behind our net was impressive.

The Avs, when motivated, aren't an easy team to shut down. The boys did well.